When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Unfortunately not mate. Wish i could tho. If i could get hold of a tidy turbo mx5 for decent £££ i might change my mind. I think i would miss the power and regret selling my impreza.
I owned the facelifted mk2 in Sport guise. Cracking little car, but plenty of issues to go along with it.
Mine was the 1.8 UKDM with an SVT head. 0-60 just north of 8 seconds, LSD, never used to see any more than high twenties MPG wise. it was very rare to see more than 250 miles out of the tank.
Plus the rain drainage channels block up very easily making the sills rust out from the inside. Both my rear arches were rusting through when I came to get rid too
If I was looking to buy another one, it would have to be 100% rot free, or have comprehensive proof that the bodywork had been restored to an acceptable standard.
Plus the rain drainage channels block up very easily making the sills rust out from the inside. Both my rear arches were rusting through when I came to get rid too
Yep,that was the wire coathanger unblocking job.lol
Some true points here.Mpg rubbish and paying £275 road tax for a 1.8 2 seater slowcoach was a pita
Still fun.Still want to experience a Lotus Elise though.Never really quite fell in love with the MX...despite lowering it and sticking a Borla exhaust on it
Ahh that looks boss mate, looks nice and low.
Seems to be alot of mx5 fans on here, im abit shocked at the £275 a yr road tax though and the poor mpg. Looks like they aint much cheaper to run than my turbo 2000.
I went out for my first proper drive since getting my car back on the road a few weeks ago. Went to some of my favourite driving roads with my son early last Sunday morning. Headed up to the horseshoe pass then onto the evo triangle and back round to the horseshoe then back home, wow my son and i really enjoyed it. Stopped at the cafe at the top of the pass and would you believe it there was a gathering of mx5's, looked like a owners club meeting. Is that a sign
i considered an mx5 last year when i was looking for a car to make into a track car.
in the end i decided on an mr2.
i found the rear engined layout fun on the track.
in standard form it was a bit wobbly but i braced the chassis underneath and fitted decent suspension and brakes and it transformed it.
chassis bracing underneath
uprated suspension
performance exhaust
uprated brakes
the car is pretty good now, not fast in a straight line and i do struggle a bit too fit in it but it makes a fun toy.
ive read a lot of tosh on here from the usual suspects about claiming you can build a track car for £1000........its b0llocks as to do it right requires parts that are up to the job i.e. brakes,tyres and suspension.
£1000 will get you the car thats about it.
but there is nothing better than chucking a car around a track you dont really care too much about.
it even did ten of the best this year in the rwd class
all in all its good fun to build a car and track it, much better than just talking about it
Last edited by fat-thomas; Sep 24, 2015 at 08:51 AM.
i considered an mx5 last year when i was looking for a car to make into a track car.
in the end i decided on an mr2.
i found the rear engined layout fun on the track.
in standard form it was a bit wobbly but i braced the chassis underneath and fitted decent suspension and brakes and it transformed it.
chassis bracing underneath
uprated suspension
performance exhaust
uprated brakes
the car is pretty good now, not fast in a straight line and i do struggle a bit too fit in it but it makes a fun toy.
ive read a lot of tosh on here from the usual suspects about claiming you can build a track car for £1000........its b0llocks as to do it right requires parts that are up to the job i.e. brakes,tyres and suspension.
£1000 will get you the car thats about it.
but there is nothing better than chucking a car around a track you dont really care too much about.
it even did ten of the best this year in the rwd class
all in all its good fun to build a car and track it, much better than just talking about it
i considered an mx5 last year when i was looking for a car to make into a track car.
in the end i decided on an mr2.
i found the rear engined layout fun on the track.
in standard form it was a bit wobbly but i braced the chassis underneath and fitted decent suspension and brakes and it transformed it.
chassis bracing underneath
uprated suspension
performance exhaust
uprated brakes
the car is pretty good now, not fast in a straight line and i do struggle a bit too fit in it but it makes a fun toy.
ive read a lot of tosh on here from the usual suspects about claiming you can build a track car for £1000........its b0llocks as to do it right requires parts that are up to the job i.e. brakes,tyres and suspension.
£1000 will get you the car thats about it.
but there is nothing better than chucking a car around a track you dont really care too much about.
it even did ten of the best this year in the rwd class
all in all its good fun to build a car and track it, much better than just talking about it
I've never really considered the mr2 as they are mid engined and wouldn't be suited to any drifting that i might do.
I'd sooner have a Honda S2000, if it's not about 'cheap'
Much faster, better looking and less hair dresser comments.
Yeah it was to be a cheap fun car so seeing as you can't get a s2k for £2k like a mx5 its not worth considering. Great cars tho if my budget could stretch to that, although if i had the cash for a s2k I'd much rather buy a S15 anyway.
Nice driving. Do you think the same driver would be slower in an S2000 with similar mods to the MX5? The difference in that video is clearly the driver. Does look a nice car no doubt.
My recommendation about an S2000 was a moot one anyway as the OP is not spending anywhere near S2000 money. They are great cars in their own right though.
From the comments, it seems he's a 'former race driver & current Konigsegg test driver'
I think if he was in the GT3 RS racing himself in the MX5 he might just beat the all conquering MX5 though
It's all to do with being able to be flat out round corners, weight ratio and all that, my old mx5 would easy beat my old Subaru on a tight track but not on straight.
But racing on a straight is not exactly fun is it.
The Balance of a mx5 is 50/50 so perfect for a base car, sort suspension out and chassis and you can fly round corners at wot and carry silly speeds on corners compared to most cars.
It's all to do with being able to be flat out round corners, weight ratio and all that, my old mx5 would easy beat my old Subaru on a tight track but not on straight.
But racing on a straight is not exactly fun is it.
The Balance of a mx5 is 50/50 so perfect for a base car, sort suspension out and chassis and you can fly round corners at wot and carry silly speeds on corners compared to most cars.
Busta ... You had a spin in an Elise ? That was my first choice, never had a drive of one. Still want one now.experienced mx5 but always hankered after the Lotus... Even if they are stupidly overpriced. Lol
Busta ... You had a spin in an Elise ? That was my first choice, never had a drive of one. Still want one now.experienced mx5 but always hankered after the Lotus... Even if they are stupidly overpriced. Lol
No but I did want a mk1 but they aren't that reliable nor parts as easy to source and too much compared.
I'd love an exige though but they big money for a toy to us poor mortals.
And tbh the real reason a mx5 can do flat out corners is the 50/50 weight distribution,
The mr2 and lotus are around the 60/40 area.
So IMO a turbo or supercharged mx5 is best one to choose if you can get over the looks which I never liked myself but had to try one to see what all the hype was about.
And tbh the real reason a mx5 can do flat out corners is the 50/50 weight distribution,
The mr2 and lotus are around the 60/40 area.
So IMO a turbo or supercharged mx5 is best one to choose if you can get over the looks which I never liked myself but had to try one to see what all the hype was about.
Rear engined layout is the proper way hence f1 cars etc.
The weight distribution of mr2 and elises doesn't harm then.
They have no weight at the front which is aids the steering.
The exige is just a ln elise in a dress anyway albeit uprated
As most track cars are for fun and not racing I'd say a rear engined rwd lsd layout is the best fun and teaches you some good techniques like weight transfer.
No but I did want a mk1 but they aren't that reliable nor parts as easy to source and too much compared.
I'd love an exige though but they big money for a toy to us poor mortals.
My Elise S1 has been reliable and parts are as easy to buy as any other car. Certainly no less reliable than a Subaru engine. They are made up from other bits of cars so easily available. The only weak spot is the K Series engine on the S1 but most have had the dowels upgraded and are fine. Mine went in 2009 and has been fine since and this includes 5 or so tracks days.
Compared to an MK5 though then yes, its in another league in terms of cost.
Rear engined layout is the proper way hence f1 cars etc.
The weight distribution of mr2 and elises doesn't harm then.
They have no weight at the front which is aids the steering.
The exige is just a ln elise in a dress anyway albeit uprated
As most track cars are for fun and not racing I'd say a rear engined rwd lsd layout is the best fun and teaches you some good techniques like weight transfer.
You do realize that the Elise is not rear engine and is mid engine with RWD. Plus it has no weight on the front or the rear which is why a lot end up backwards.
Difference over the Elise S1 and Exige S1 is more than just dress,
VHPD engine (in either 177bhp or 192bhp guise)
Alcantara interior trim option.
111S close-ratio gearbox
Exige-secific LSS Suspension (Koni Yellows, platform adjustable)
Adjustable anti roll bar
Raised steering rack.
I also think different tyres, widths and alloys if memory serves me.
My Elise S1 has been reliable and parts are as easy to buy as any other car. Certainly no less reliable than a Subaru engine. They are made up from other bits of cars so easily available. The only weak spot is the K Series engine on the S1 but most have had the dowels upgraded and are fine. Mine went in 2009 and has been fine since and this includes 5 or so tracks days.
Compared to an MK5 though then yes, its in another league in terms of cost.
Hmm, maybe an option for the future then, I also want a z3m hatch. But too rare for a toy that's going to get abused.
Too many choices lol
My Elise S1 has been reliable and parts are as easy to buy as any other car. Certainly no less reliable than a Subaru engine. They are made up from other bits of cars so easily available. The only weak spot is the K Series engine on the S1 but most have had the dowels upgraded and are fine. Mine went in 2009 and has been fine since and this includes 5 or so tracks days.
Compared to an MK5 though then yes, its in another league in terms of cost.
Just about to book my MX5 in (next few weeks) for a supercharger and once completed, I still doubt I have spent anywhere near the price of an Elise
Originally Posted by bustaMOVEs
Hmm, maybe an option for the future then, I also want a z3m hatch. But too rare for a toy that's going to get abused.
Too many choices lol
I like the z4 coupe slow as hell on track, but still look and sound good